World Rugby has opened the first criminal case for digital harassment at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. In addition to this paradigmatic case, there are others open in different countries.
The artificial intelligence-based system identified, investigated and provided support related to abuse and threats received by referees, players, teams and officials. The development was launched in 2020 to detect these types of hate posts in real time and this year it will be applied in women's and men's rugby competitions. “Those who abuse or threaten players, referees or their families must realize that their actions will have consequences,” said World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin.